Effective...

....Barry M Effects. This innovative nail polish paints on over the top of already colour polished nails like a thick black polish and literally disintegrates in front of your eyes in a matter of seconds to create a sort of scratched off effect. Its fascinating to watch, and experiments into the best colour combinations have commenced! Im secretly enjoying the novelty of it all but not sure how long the nail art fad is going to last with anyone over 12 years old. Heres my first experiment with a white Barry M basecoat.

The December Issue: Part Deux

Another festive accomplishment: shopping at the German christmas markets in Manchester city centre. Cold and busy as it was, the christmas markets were absolutely buzzing with atmosphere and festive cheer. For the foodie in you, hog roasts, stews, paella, waffles and strudels (of every flavour) were on offer, as well as many stalls offering tasters of traditional cheeses, salamis, pate's and chutneys. Not only are the markets a great place for christmas gift purchases, (jewellery, trinkets, scarves and so on) they are absolutely picture perfect in the dark of a winter evening.

Next to do: Open air iceskating at Spinningfields....

The December Issue

The North Pole Bar, Manchester 2010

After a stressful month of big assignment deadlines, I can now breathe a satisfactory sigh of relief, as coursework has been submitted and term time is well and truly over. Thank the lord. Celebrations are in order and just enough time is left to get into the christmas spirit before the big day itself. 

Nothing makes me more jealous, in this current, icy climate than imagining my Australian friends celebrating christmas on a beach, at 40 degrees, with a bbq christmas dinner. I hold fond memories of the christmas I celebrated there with my boyfriends family the year before last. However glorious a quick sunbathe on a beach would be right now, the traditional christmas connotations tend not to bode as well down under, and a hot christmas is just not the same. For me, wrapping up warm in scarves, hats and gloves to explore the snow blitzed streets during the day, and cosily snuggling up in front of the fire, with a mug of mulled wine and a large supply of quality streets, watching love actually on a cold winter nights, is what christmas is all about.

So, in order to embrace the christmas spirit as we know it, a bit of exploring was in order, for my first christmas in manchester. For a person with a love for all things novelty, a christmas pop up bar in the city centre is definitely the place to go. The North Pole bar combines fabulous decor, with deliciously warming (hot!) cocktails and Tampopo Thai food to create the perfect christmas experience. The bar is stylishly decked out with hanging chandeliers, model reindeer heads and comfy sofas complete with fur throws and cushions. The innovative christmas themed hot cocktails on offer include toffee apple, winter crumble,(the favourite so far)  chocolate wunder warmer, and not forgetting the spicy mulled wine. Only open until christmas eve, get in there whilst you can.